Riesling RSS „This is not a love song“ Steingutamphore 2018

Wine Description for Riesling RSS „This is not a love song“ Stoneware Amphora 2018 by HM Lang

Colour & Appearance

Pale straw yellow, clear and luminous in the glass – a visual announcement of the elegance to follow.

Nose

Crystal-clear, ethereal aromatics of remarkable precision. Initially floral and citric, the wine opens with air to reveal more complex layers: lemon and grapefruit, along with crisp peach and pear. Fine notes of verbena, anise and yeast lend depth. The bouquet seems to float from the glass – airy, unadulterated, harmonious.

Palate

A paradox in liquid form: with only 11% alcohol, this Riesling is simultaneously lean and substantial, ethereal yet of remarkable depth. The 80-year-old vines of Steiner Schreck lend an additional dimension of minerality. Two years on the lees bring saline notes and a silky texture. The wine positively vibrates with energy – herbal-spicy, powerful, cool and bright. Laid back like an experienced jazz musician, playful like Nouvelle Vague, it has something Burgundian about it without losing its Austrian identity.

Finish

Long, saline, with persistent mineral freshness. The energy remains palpable until the very last moment.

Terroir & Origin

From the Steiner Schreck in the Kremstal, one of the region’s steepest vineyard sites at 320 metres elevation. Gföller gneiss and granite characterise the soil. The Demeter-certified parcels with 80-year-old vines lend this wine its extraordinary depth and complexity.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Extremely early harvest on 26 August 2018. Two-day, slow pressing on a 100-tonne wooden press, reductive, then deliberate oxidation. Spontaneous fermentation with 3-5% destemmed grapes for intercellular fermentation. Aged for two years on full lees in a 550-litre stoneware amphora, which allows gentle microoxygenation. Unfiltered, minimally sulphited, bottled in February 2021.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Vegetable tempura, Bouchot mussels in pepper broth, poached chicken with lime yoghurt on udon noodles with coconut curry. Generally suited to light Asian dishes, raw fish or refined vegetable cuisine.

Special Characteristics

A unique creation that defies conventional categories. The wine embodies a clear vision: light yet substantial, traditional yet innovative. An independent statement against heavy, high-alcohol Riesling styles.